Beauty and shade for years to come

As the Danforth
Adopt-a-Street-Tree Pilot Program has grown over the past couple months,
we’ve gotten to know some of the great business owners and community members who
have adopted street trees. Our outreach
volunteers have been taking to the street along Danforth East to secure
adopters as well as deliver educational materials (do’s and don’ts of street
tree care) and stewardship supplies (watering cans, gloves, etc.) to the
businesses (and some residents) that have adopted trees.

To date, we have 73 trees adopted by 51 different
adopters - some people have taken more than one tree!

One of the businesses that stands out as a
stewardship champion is Kato Animal Hospital. Christine Kato and her
staff are now up to four adopted trees and have offered to help with any other
trees on their block that do not have caretakers.

We asked business owners what motivated and inspired
them to adopt a tree (or in some cases, multiple trees). Here’s what Kato
shared with us:

“I am very happy to be a LEAF volunteer. I love
trees and plants and I am excited to see more green living things along the
Danforth giving us much needed shade, oxygen and beauty. I am really
hoping the trees and plants do well in the sweltering heat and the cold and
salt of winter. It will be very hard for them to survive, so I am going to do
my utmost to ensure their best chance for survival by doing my small part.

For 15-20 minutes, twice a week, my employee and I
water four trees near us. While watering I have met and talked to a number of
people - city workers, other volunteers, neighbours from nearby stores, clients
and people who pass by. It has been interesting to talk to these people as I
water as most of the comments have been very positive and supportive. Everyone
seems excited to have a nicer looking neighbourhood.

I would encourage other shop owners to consider
adopting a tree and other volunteers to keep watering. The heat will be very
hard on the trees and they need our help. Watering one tree doesn’t take up
much time and there are a number of trees that have not yet been adopted.

You will have the good feeling of helping a tree
survive and when the tree does well, we will all enjoy its beauty and shade for
years to come.”

If you have adopted a tree or if you are considering
adopting one and want to learn more about proper tree care, join LEAF for a
free 30 minute Tree Stewardship
Mini-Workshop. Learn how to help
your tree thrive!

Thursday August 13th @ 12:00pm

Friday August 14th @ 8.30am

Saturday August 15th @ 10.00am

Monday August 17th @ 6.30pm

Location: Coleman Park. 19 Coleman Ave.

Sign up: erin[at]yourleaf.org or 416-413-9244 x12

We thank all of the businesses and residents that
have adopted trees along the Danforth and hope that others will join in. If you
are interested, please contact erin[at]yourleaf.org. There are still plenty of
trees in need of adoption!

LEAF’s Adopt-a-Street-Tree
Program is supported by TD Green Streets and the City of Toronto.

Erin MacDonald
is LEAF’s Volunteer and Stewardship Coordinator.

In 1982, Dr.
Christine Kato founded the Kato Animal Hospital in Toronto, ON, and since that
time, she has helped hundreds of pets (and their owners) stay in good shape.